Bambi in the Bushes......

It was late afternoon and I took another slow walk up our bike path through the woods. This time is was just me and my phone/camera. Fenway and Dave were ensconced in the condo and I just wanted to stretch my legs. As usual, within a few steps, I am 'in" the woods. And I'm never disappointed.

There was a slight breeze and the zillions of green leaves around me moved slowly....birds singing and flying about. And my first sighting was a sweet little rabbit. It let me get pretty close before dashing into the long grass to disappear. Loved its soft grey/brown coloring....and sitting near a bunch of yellow birdsfoot trefoil!

Moving north I spotted dozens and dozens of monarchs. Pairs zipping around and chasing each other....perhaps it's monarch mating season? Lots of stands of milkweed whre they would lite for a moment before fluttering on. I bet I counted fifty but my camera wasn't fast enough to catch a shot.

And then I spotted my first doe....feeding across the stream. She looked at me for a moment, but knew she was safe on her side so just continued to browse. For some reason I just never get tired of spotting "my" deer. I could hear others in the deep green....but unless you're in the right spot at the right time they are impossible to see. This walk rewarded me with four deer along the way.

Then, just before coming back to the condo I heard a small rustle and looked just off the path. Bambi in the bushes. Wow how quickly they grow! We just stood and looked at each other for a moment before I went on home.

My quiet 45 minute walk was a success. And I began to think about my "Claudia Walks", the ones with my cousin down on her farm. How she'd enjoy the quiet moments, the nature around her.....the same morning walk every day for YEARS....no matter what the weather. And that's how I think about my walks....this is my slmost daily "Claudia Walk"......and about as close to the spiritual as I get.......it's my church.